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Articles
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This is the Article Archive, the place to find all past and present articles written by the New S.H.I.R.E. Institute. We are a non-profit, and currently our entire staff is volunteer only. Lets give a great big 'Thank You' to all our hard working writers and editers that make all this possible. If you are looking for our blogs, you can find them here . |
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Members of the sustainability movement have arrived here from a variety of backgrounds, via many different paths. What does living in a sustainable manner look like? In this section, we look at the many faces sustainability, meeting some of the people involved in growing the future from the ground up. Eco-Culture includes discussions of our changing lifestyles, as we gear ourselves towards the future we want to see.
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What does sustainability mean? That question can sometimes get us here at the New S.H.I.R.E Institute a little tongue-tied. The definition of sustainability can be tricky to pin down, since it all depends to whom one is talking. In this section, we have articles exploring the manifold meanings of "sustainable" and discussions of why sustainability matters to those of us here at the New S.H.I.R.E Institute, as well as why it matters to a variety of other people and organizations. Dissecting why sustainability matters often intersects with conflicting visions of the future, creating fascinating proposals about the various directions our collective technological developments could one day bring. Not all of the viewpoints presented here represent the views of the New S.H.I.R.E Institute, rather we believe in the importance of presenting a variety of perspectives o how to build a better future through a sustainable present.
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Green Tech includes a variety of articles exploring the wide range of sustainable technologies being developed, from high tech to low tech. Articles here cover new scientific discoveries, discussions of architecture, plant science and green engery. Hopefully, there will be something here to pique your curiosity. Have something that might pique our interest? Comment on our community forum and share the idea with an admin.
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- COMPOST PRIMER
An Article on what compost is. what it good for and why it smells when things are not just right.
- A Greener Shade of Travel
Travel is an important aspect of life. It expands one's horizons, it connects cultures, and it increases appreciation for our world. Having recently returned from a trip to South America, I found myself analyzing the dynamics of tourism and its effect on the environment and the host community. Although the traveler will most likely benefit from the acts of tourism, the surrounding ecology may not---an ecology that includes the natural world and its human society. A movement called "ecotourism" has begun to incorporate sustainability, fair-trade, and volunteerism as a means to offset the harmful effects of such a desirable activity.
- A Cob Construction Primer
The most recent revival in natural building has focused on cob, a combination of earth with straw. This natural construction method is possibly the world's oldest and most ubiquitous building practice. Building with cob is both rewarding and economical. It is one of the essayist way to build locally, building community as well as a dwelling.
- Building a compost bin
This method is the quickest way to build a compost bin in any backyard with minimal tools and money spent. It is super easy and fun. Now anyone can compost almost anywhere. No more will you have to throw food away; you will use it to make compost for your garden! This bin uses mostly recycled goods that are freely available.
- Lose Your Lawn
How did we become a nation of manicured, toxic lawns? How did a lowly perennial that imitates a carpet become our dominant ground cover?
- Interview with Kevin Topek
Kevin Topek is a resident of Bellaire, Texas. He is owner of Permaculture Designs, LLC and has implemented many wonderful Permaculture projects in the Houston area
- The Venus Project: part 2
Imagine cities that improved the environment rather then destroying it. Jacque Fresco's amazingly articulated vision of a sustainable city that provides for the needs of all of its inhabitants.
- The Venus Project: part 1
The Venus Project is part of a movement calling for the redesign of society. Founded byself-described futurist, Jacque Fresco his ideas involve "changing of all society so that all people [may] benefit from industry".
- Straw Bale Rubble Foundation
This article is the second in a series discussing the ongoing spiral straw bale project. Benjamin Pinover is co-writer of the series, as well as co-builder. In this article we discuss a number of possible foundations for natural buildings, focusing on the rubble trench technique that we used for this one.
- Running away with fungus
This article is a brief review of Mycelium Running: How Mushrooms Can Save the World, by Paul Stamets.
Paul Stamets is huge mycophile. He loves fungus, and all the benefits they can impart on our species. Through this book, he is able to turn any mycophobe into a fully-fledged devotee of fungus.
- High Gas Prices
The Tragedy of the Commons is the idea that what is good for a society as a whole will not necessarily be good for an individual in that society. And the rising cost of gas has become the latest poster child of this concept.
- Fields of Plenty Review
A review of Michael Ablemen's work, Fields of Plenty, chronicling his journey in search of real food and the people who grow it.
- Richard Proenneke: Wilderness Forager
Richard Proenneke, or Dick, as he is better known, retired at 52 to the Twin Lakes region of Alaska, where he built his log cabin and lived in solitude in the Alaskan wilderness for thirty years.
- So what is green chemistry?
Green chemistry uses chemistry as a type of pollution prevention that works through the design and redesign of chemical syntheses and chemical products to prevent the pollution or to help solve environmental problems. This is a growing field of study and active research and has great potential to help mitigate our unsustainable culture.
- Making MEAD
a description of mead, honey wine and how to make it. This is a really easy first time brewing project for some one interested in getting in to brewing.
- The Importance of Green Chemistry
Chemistry itself is not “good†or “bad†in a moral sense since it is a natural phenomenon that follows physical laws. It is up to the people who use chemistry to do so responsibly. This is the first part of an introduction to the exciting new field of green chemistry.
- Geothermal Power: Understanding the basics
The acquisition of energy by means of geothermal power. pumping water in to the ground and heating it with the earths own magma.
- Thinkhost
A short expose written by Sandor Stockfleth on an emerging new sustainable web-hosting company. In an interview with Michael Bloch, thinkhost's public liaison officer talks about sustainable web hosting.
- Straw Bale Spiral
This article discusses the technique of building with bales of straw, including the history and variations of the style, using my current construction project as an example.
- I have great faith in a seed...
When people hear the name Thoreau they think of the author of Walden and Civil Disobedience, a Transcendentalist writer whose works are loaded with metaphor and higher thought. How many people would associate him with the more scientific and methodical works of Darwin or other naturalists?
- Construction of a Composting Toilet
This article discuses how Nick built a composting toilet. A composting toilet is a simple, elegant and economical solution to disposing of waste where there are no public utilities. In cities and densely populated suburban areas, public health and space issues make the system more difficult to implement. However, in a rural setting the composting toilet is the ideal solution to using resources efficiently.
- Sustainable Stool Part 3
In this installment I discuss historical use of human wasIn this installment I discuss historical use of human waste as fertilizer and sustainability aspects of humanure.te as fertilizer and sustainability aspects of humanure.
- Sustainable Stool Part 2
In this installment, I am going to discuss the composting of human manure as a small scale operation and present information on the composting process.
- Sustainable Stool Part 1
This is the first in a three part series about human manure and its potential use as a sustainable alternative to conventional sewage treatment.
- Sustainable Habitat
Designers, engineers and architects have an obligation to look at all the processes that go into creating the various elements that comprise the human habitat, eliminating practices that will degrade the environment, both globally and locally. The off site disposal of waste products should be rethought so that it can become a nutrient streams for other processes to feed off.
- Renewable Education
To maintain a sustainable habitat its caretakers have to keep re-evaluating everything involved within that habitat. Is this the best option available? It is an education based on renewable energy, resources and technologies. Taking a holistic approach renewable education stimulates a dynamic learning environment.
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